Regular Editor’s letter

Editor’s letter

For the debut issue of FRUITY, we celebrate what it means to be young, loud and queer, inviting you into various pockets of the community. From the dark dungeons of London’s kink clubs to the novels you just cannot put down.

It is no secret that queer women, non-binary and trans people tend to be either overlooked or misrepresented in the mainstream media, which is why it is about time we write our own narratives.

Let us replace the fetishisation, all those boring tropes and the tragic endings with a kaleidoscope of success, empowerment and constructive discussion.

In the South East, we meet the founders behind a sweaty rave and the matchmaker who is radicalising modern dating. A train ride away, we hear from Lynks, who is uniting drag and electronic beats in an amusing performance.

Our unapologetic queerness is what unites us and it has been a pleasure to give this love letter of a magazine back to our community.

This is FRUITY issue 1. Enjoy!

Editorial team

FRUITY is created by Martine Aamodt Hess, a year-long project forming part of her BA Journalism degree at Kingston University. Everything you see as you fl ip through the next pages is therefore written and produced by Martine. The magazine is printed on recycled paper using vegetables based inks.

Founder, editor and creative director:

Martine Aamodt Hess @martine.hess / martinehess.com

Cover photo:

@mayathings_ photographed at Big Dyke Energy by Charlotte Callis.

Special thanks to:

Adam Martin Bethan Elford Fiona O’Brien Lo River Lööf Nora Marie Vatland Queer Youth Art Collective Stephanie Robbinson

Contents

01. Regular Editor’s letter 05. Regular The queer ABCs 06. Community For the love of carabiners 08. Interview Rebel, rebel, dating online? 12. Community “Representation is powerful but it’s not enough” 16. Interview Big Dyke Energy: Finding youself in a sweaty warehouse

26. Inspiration

Six fruity accounts you wish you knew sooner 27. Interview Beneath the latex: Lola Haze on the shades of kink 31. Inspiration LGBT+ must-reads 32. Regular 16 questions x Lynks 34. Community Confessions of the young & queer 36. Regular Oh, to be a rainbow!

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Photo by Stephanie Robbinson Photo by Bethan Elford

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